Did Jesus Really Die on the Cross?

One Shining Moment Pt 2

4.17.11   Integrity Bud Wrenn

John 19:30 (NLT) When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

The Critic's Position:  Jesus' reappearance was not a resurrection, but a resuscitation.

Pre-Cross Torture

Psychological Effect:  Jesus sweat drops of blood.

Luke 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  (KJV)

The Condition:  Hematidrosis

Physical Effect:  Jesus skin became incredibly sensitive. 

John 19:1-3   Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. [2] The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him. [3] "Hail! King of the Jews!" they mocked, and they hit him with their fists.  (NLT)

Physiological Effect:  Jesus' pain caused His body to go into Hypovolemic shock.

John 19:28   Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, "I am thirsty." (NLT)

Psalm 69:21  .... they offer me sour wine to satisfy my thirst.  (NLT)

Torture of the Cross

John 19:17-18 (NLT) ¹⁷ Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

Wrists attached to crossbar with 7 inch nails.

Crossbar attached to vertical stake.

Feet attached to vertical stake with 7 inch nails.

Psalm 22:16    My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;  an evil gang closes in on me.  They have pierced my hands and feet.  (NLT)

Physical Results of the Cross

Arms stretched and shoulders dislocated.

Psalm 22:14   My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.... (NLT)

Breathing causes tearing of a) feet and b) back.

Physical shock leads to cardiac arrest.

John 19:34   One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. (NLT)

Psalm 22:14   My life is poured out like water, .... (NLT)

Physical exhaustion leads to suffocation.

John 19:31-32   The Jewish leaders didn't want the victims hanging there the next day, ….   So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus.  (NLT)

Psalm 34:20  he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.  (NIV)

Conclusion

What was the motivation behind Jesus accepting this type of treatment?  LOVE.

John 19:30 (NLT) ³⁰ When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.
John 19:33 (NLT) ³³ But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.

Hebrews 12:2   …. Jesus, …. was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward…... (NLT)

1 John 4:10  This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (NLT)